Eddie Jones shares his candid thoughts on coaching challenges and player relationships in England and Japan rugby

I’ll be honest—when I was playing for Wales, I wouldn’t have admitted this, especially with England as our biggest rivals.

But I used to love watching Eddie Jones’ press conferences. His ability to command a room full of journalists was always entertaining.

Now that I’m balancing my playing career with media work at Toulon, I try to bring the same honesty and energy to my interviews.

Rugby needs personalities, and Eddie is definitely one of them.

He’s been cast as the villain more times than I can count, but whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that he’s fascinating. He’s had his fair share of critics, but his impact on the game is undeniable.

So, when I got the chance to sit down with him, I knew it was going to be an eye-opening conversation.

The ‘Villain’ Label and Coaching Philosophy

Eddie has been called many things—a master of mind games, a dictator, even rugby’s version of Jose Mourinho. But he doesn’t see it that way.

“I never set out to be the villain,” he told me.

“Media plays a big role in the sport, and if there’s a way to help your team get an advantage, you take it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

It’s a mindset I can relate to. As a player, I’ve always done whatever it takes to win.

Eddie’s approach to coaching is no different. But not everyone has responded well to his methods.

Former England scrum-half Danny Care famously described working under him as “like living in a dictatorship” where “everyone was bloody terrified.”

Eddie shrugs off the criticism. “You probably haven’t been dropped too often, Dan,” he said, “but when you tell a player he’s out, they don’t hear anything else. I’ve learned that the hard way.”

He recalled dropping Care from the England squad after a poor performance against Japan in 2018.

“It wasn’t because he was a bad guy or a bad player,” Eddie explained.

“We just needed something different at that stage.

But I get it—no one ever looks back on being dropped with fond memories.”

Winning, Losing, and the Harsh Reality of Coaching

Eddie has been at the helm of some of the biggest teams in the world—Australia, England, Japan—and he’s seen the highs and lows of the sport.

He coached England to the 2019 World Cup final but couldn’t quite get them over the line. Looking back, he takes full responsibility.

“In the week before the final, everyone was blowing smoke up us,” he admitted.

“I tried to get the balance right, but I didn’t quite manage it.

I wanted to make changes, but I had a battle with my assistant coaches.

Sometimes, I’m my own worst dictator—I don’t even listen to myself.”

For Eddie, coaching is about understanding each player as an individual.

“Some guys need a tough approach, others need space to figure things out,” he said.

“One player I coached never responded well to direct feedback, so I started sending him stats and data instead.

A couple of days later, he’d come back with his own solutions. That worked for him.”

The Ever-Changing Game and Coaching Evolution

Eddie sees coaching as a constant evolution.

“Some coaches stick to one style and try to impose it wherever they go,” he explained. “I believe in adapting.

With England, we played a high kicking game. With Japan, it was all about fast, running rugby.”

He reminisced about his early days in Australia, playing alongside the legendary Ella brothers.

“Mark Ella was like the Lionel Messi of rugby. He changed the game.

That’s always stuck with me—I want to create teams that play differently.”

And yet, he admits that modern rugby can be a little predictable.

“A lot of teams play the same way now, and honestly, I find it a bit boring. That’s why I love watching the French Top 14.

Teams like Toulouse play with a real intent to keep the ball alive. That’s the kind of rugby I want to see.”

What’s Next for Eddie Jones?

After his departure from England, Eddie had a brief, turbulent return to Australia, which ended in disappointment at the 2023 World Cup.

Now, he’s back with Japan, but he still dreams of branching out into cricket.

“Coaching in the Indian Premier League? That would be incredible,” he said with a grin.

He’s also been spotted wearing a Tottenham Hotspur hat lately—a nod of support for his fellow Aussie, Ange Postecoglou, who’s facing pressure as Spurs manager.

“I like to back my fellow Australians,” he chuckled.

Talking to Eddie, I couldn’t help but reflect on how surreal the moment was.

Back in 2003, when I was just 14, I traveled to Australia with my late mum to watch the Rugby World Cup.

I was in the stadium in Sydney when Jonny Wilkinson’s famous drop goal won England the title.

And the man coaching Australia that day? Eddie Jones.

England’s Future Under Steve Borthwick

Eddie’s successor, Steve Borthwick, is now in his third year as England’s head coach.

Their recent one-point win over France has shaken up the Six Nations, but there’s still work to be done.

“Steve’s in that tricky phase where senior players are leaving and younger guys are stepping in but aren’t quite consistent yet,” Eddie observed.

“England got criticism for their performance against Ireland, but I saw real courage. They’ll be fine in the long run.”

Eddie Jones is a complex figure—controversial, relentless, and always striving for excellence.

Whether you agree with his methods or not, one thing’s for sure: rugby is never boring when he’s around.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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